Gantry type drilling machines



Nov. 8, 1966 H. BRONDER 3,283,831

GANTRY TYPE DRILLING MACHINES Filed July 28, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l E Nm l5 HERBERT man/0 AGENT Nov. 8, 1966 BRQND'ER 3,283,831

GANTRY TYPE DRILLING MACHINES Filed July 28, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 AVAV/ INVENTOR ERBERT BR DER BY AGENT United States Patent 3,283,831 GANTRY TYPE DRILLING MACHINES Herbert Bronder, Sandvika, Norway, assignor to Ingersoll- Rand World Trade Limited, Hamilton, Bermuda, a corporation of Bermuda Filed July 28, 1964-, Ser. No. 385,646 7 Claims. (63]. 17343) The present invention relates generally to drilling machines called jumbos and more particularly to gantry type jumbos having a plurality of forwardly extending positionable drilling means.

An object of the present invention is to provide a drilling machine having a plurality of forwardly extending positionable drilling means capable of drilling into any part of a relatively large surface while the machine remains stationary.

Another object of the present invention is to provide the aforementioned machine capable of simultaneously drilling by the plurality of drilling means.

And another object of the present invention is to provide the aforementioned machine having passage means therethrough for excavation machines and/ or other vehicles to the surface being drilled.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide the aforementioned machine having a stabilized base requiring no counter balances to offset the weight of the drill means and the unbalancing effect of drilling.

The present invention contemplates a drilling machine comprising a frame having a horizontal member, and a pair of spaced legs connected to the ends of the horizontal member and depending therefrom to support the horizontal member in spaced vertical relationship above a supporting surface and to define a vehicular passageway through the frame; each of the legs having a forwardly extending foot portion adapted to engage a supporting surface and to stabilize the frame from tipping; a plurality of booms of variable length disposed in spaced relationship with one another each being pivotally connected at one end to the front of the frame and having a drilling mechanism mounted at its other end; each of the booms having motor means for pivoting the booms relative to the frame for positioning the drilling mechanisms; a platform for supporting an operator for the drilling machine; a central boom of variable length pivotably connected at one end to the front of the horizontal member spaced from its ends, and at the other end to the platform; and the central boom having motor means for pivoting such boom relative to the frame for positioning the platform.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear more fully hereinafter from a consideration of the detailed dsecription which follows, taken together with the accompanying drawings wherein one embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for illustration purposes only and are not to be construed as defining the limits of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a gantry type drilling machine made in accordance with the present invention that is mounted on a transporting vehicle,

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the novel drilling machine of FIG. 1 operatively disposed in a tunnel end,

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the novel drilling machine as shown in FIG. 2 with booms, motors, and motor connections removed, and

FIG. 4 is a front elevation similar to FIG. 3 with machine in position to pass an excavation machine therethrough as indicated.

Referring now to the drawings, a drilling machine made in accordance with the present invention has a frame or body portion comprising a cross-beam or horizontal transverse member 16 provided with a pair of spaced depending legs 12 defining a vehicular passageway therebetween, each leg being connected at its upper end to one end of member 10, and terminating at its lower end in a forwardly extending foot portion 13. Legs 12 are variable length, being extendable as shown in FIG. 4 and retractable as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 by any means well known in the art (not shown) to vary the elevation of the transverse member 16 as will be further discussed. Transverse member ltl has a centrally disposed rearwardly extending platform or station 11.

A pair of pads 14 and 15 are pivotally connected to the ends of each of the foot portions 13 and are moved on their respective pivots 16 and 17 by pressure fluid means such as motors 18 and 19, respectively. Motors 18 and 19 may be operated individually, in pairs, or in unison as desired by any Well known control means (not shown).

A pair of support arms or members 20 are pivotally connected to the bottom of transverse member 10.

A second operators platform or station 21 is provided that is universally positionable relative to the frame or body portion of the novel machine. For this, platform 21 is connected to one end of a telescopic boom 22 of variable length that is pivotally connected for universal movement to the front of transverse member 10 by a coupling 23 disposed substantially midway between the ends of member 10. A motor 24 is provided to move boom 22 for varying the elevation of platform 21 while similar motors (not shown) are provided for varying the length of boom 22 and for positioning platform 21 in azimuth.

A pair of telescopic booms 25 of variable length are provided for supporting drilling mechanisms 26 (shown in part), each being connected at one end to the front of one end of the transverse member 10 by a universal coupling 27. Each boom 25 is moved in elevation by a motor 28 and in azimuth by another motor (not shown). A second pair of booms 25 are similarly mounted to the front of legs 12 above foot portions 13.

As shown in FIG. 1, arms 20 are positioned to extend substantially parallel to each other and forwardly from transverse member 10 thereby engaging and resting on the bed 31 of a vehicle 30 which is used for transporting the novel drilling machine. When in transport, legs 12 and pads 14 and 16 are all in their retracted position to provide ground clearance by the novel drilling machine.

When the drilling machine is positioned at a desired drill site, for example in a tunnel 33, by the vehicle 30, either legs 12 or pads 14 and 15 are extended to elevate transverse member 10 and disengage arms 20 from the vehicle bed 31. Vehicle 30 is then removed from beneath transverse member 10 between legs 12 and arms 20 are pivoted to a retracted position partially overlying one another generally along the length of member 10 as shown in FIG. 3. Legs 12 and/or pads 14 and 15 are retracted, pads 14 and 15 being positioned to support and provide stabilizing forces for the machine as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Legs 12 are normally in their collapsed or retracted positions during drilling, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. However, legs 12 can be extended during drilling where the top of tunnel 33 requires the upper drill mechanisms 26 to have additional elevation over their maximum elevation when legs 12 are collapsed.

Legs 12 are also extended to raise the transverse member 10 to provide clearance for a vehicle, such as excavator 35 as shown in FIG. 4. At this time, arms 20 are pivoted to extend forwardly from member Ill and substantially parallel to one another to provide additional clearance for excavation 35.

To reload the novel drilling machine onto the vehicle 30, transverse member is elevated sufficiently to provide room for manipulating the arms for the vehicle bed 31 in the same manner as heretofore described relative to unloading.

Although but a single embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail, it is to be expressly understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Various changes may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as the same will now be understood by those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A drilling machine comprising:

(a) a frame having a horizontal member, and a pair of spaced legs connected to the ends of the horizontal member and depending therefrom to support the horizontal member in spaced vertical relationship above a supporting surface and to define a vehicular passageway through the frame;

(b) each of the legs having a forwardly extending foot portion adapted to engage a supporting surface and to stabilize the frame from tipping;

(c) a plurality of booms of variable length disposed in spaced relationship with one another each being pivotally connected at one end to the front of the frame and having a drilling mechanism mounted at its other end;

((1) each of the booms having motor means for pivoting the booms relative to the frame for positioning the drilling mechanisms;

(e) a platform for supporting an operator for the drilling machine;

(f) a central boom of variable length pivotally connected at one end to the front of the horizontal member spaced from its ends, and at the other end to the platform; and

(g) the central boom having motor means for pivoting such boom relative to the frame for positioning the platform.

2. The drilling machine in accordance with claim 1,

wherein:

(a) the plurality of booms pivotally connected to the frame for positioning the drilling mechanisms are singularly connected to each of the legs and at the ends of the horizontal member thereof.

3. The drilling machine in accordance with claim 2,

and:

(a) a pair of arms pivotally connected to the bottom of the horizontal member extending forwardly therefrom in spaced parallel relation being adapted to engage a vehicle disposed in the passageway for transporting the mining machine, and being pivotal to a retracted position within the passageway when not in use.

4. The drilling machine in accordance with claim 3,

and:

(a) each of the foot portions having a pair of pads pivotally connected to its ends being adapted to engage a supporting surface and motor means for pivoting the pads relative to the foot portions and against a supporting surface they contact for raising the machine.

5. The drilling machine in accordance with claim 3,

wherein:

(a) each of the legs are variable in length to vary the elevation of the horizontal member above a supporting surface.

6. The drilling machine in accordance with claim 5,

and:

(a) each of the foot portions having a pair of pads pivotally adapted to engage a supporting surface and motor means for pivoting the pads relative to the foot portions and against a supporting surface they contact for raising the machine.

7. The drilling machine in accordance with claim 6,

and:

(a) a second platform connected to the horizontal member spaced from its ends and extending rearwardly thereof for supporting an operator for the machine.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,791,399 5/1957 Curtis et al 173-43 2,845,251 7/1958 Barton et al. 173-43 2,993,685 7/1961 Russell 173-43 3,119,503 1/1964 Herpich et al. 214-515 3,180,601 4/1965 Belt 214-515 FRED C. MATTERN, IR., Primary Examiner. L. P. KESSLER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A DRILLING MACHINE COMPRISING: (A) A FRAME HAVING A HORIZONTAL MEMBER, AND A PAIR OF SPACED LEGS CONNECTED TO THE ENDS OF THE HORIZONTAL MEMBER AND DEPENDING THEREFROM TO SUPPORT THE HORIZONTAL MEMBER IN SPACED VERTICAL RELATIONSHIP ABOVE A SUPPORTING SURFACE AND TO DEFINE A VEHICULAR PASSAGEWAY THROUGH THE FRAME; (B) EACH OF THE LEGS HAVING A FORWARDLY EXTENDING FOOT PORTION ADAPTED TO ENGAGE A SUPPORTING SURFACE AND TO STABILIZE THE FRAME FROM TIPPING; (C) A PLURALITY OF BOOMS OF VARIABLE LENGTH DISPOSED IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER EACH BEING PIVOTALLY CONNECTED AT ONE END TO THE FRONT OF THE FRAME AND HAVING A DRILLING MECHANISM MOUNTED AT ITS OTHER END; (D) EACH OF THE BOOMS HAVING MOTOR MEANS FOR PIVOTING THE BOOMS RELATIVE TO THE FRAME FOR POSITIONING THE DRILLING MECHANISMS; (E) A PLATFORM FOR SUPPORTING AN OPERTOR FOR THE DRILLING MACHINE; (F) A CENTRAL BOOM OF VARIABLE LENGTH PIVOTALLY CONNECTED AT ONE END TO THE FRONT OF THE HORIZONTAL MEMBER SPACED FROM ITS ENDS, AND AT THE OTHER END TO THE PLATFORM; AND (G) THE CENTRAL BOOM HAVING MOTOR MEANS FOR PIVOTING SUCH BOOM RELATIVE TO THE FRAME FOR POSITIONING THE PLATFORM. 